Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-14
KING
Solomon 5 Mines,
BY II. RIDER HAGGARD.

Good; 1.-The sooner we die and get it over
the better"
''While there is life there is hope" said
Sir Henry.
Accordingly we ate and slipped some wa
ter, and another period OF time passed.
when somebody suggested that it might be
as well to get as near to the door as possible
and halloa on the faint chance of somebody
catching a sound outside Accordingly
Good, who, from long practice at sea, had a
fine piercing note. CROPPED his way down the
passage and began, and [ must say lie made
a most diab0, ica noise | never heard sach
yells; but it might have been a mosquito
buzzing for all the effect it prodlfead
After awhile he gave it up, and clme back
very thirsty and had to have some water.
After that we gave up yelling, as it en-
croached on the supply OF water.
So we all sat down once more against our
chests OF useless diamonds III that dreadful
inactiOn, which was one OF the hardest cir
eumstances OF our fate; and am bound to
say that for my part, [ gave way in dcs-
pair. Laying my head against Sir Henry's
broad shoulders | burst into tears; ard [
think / heard Good gulping away on the
other side, ana swearing hoarSeIy at himself
for doing SO.
And 50 somehow the day went as the
hight had gone Gf, indeed, one can use the
Brm5 where all was densest night, and
when l lit Il match to see the time it was
seven O'clock.
Once more we ate and drank, and as we
did so an idea occurred to me.
How is it," said J. that the air in this
place keeps freSho 1t is thick and heavy
but it is perfectly frcsh.'
Great hcavens!' said Good, starting UP.
Il never thought OF thar. 1t can't come
through the stone door, FIR it is air-tight. if
syer door was. 1t m!5t come from some
where. If there were no current of air in
the place we should have been stifed when
first we came in. Let us have a look"
1t was wonderful what a change this mere
spark of hope wrought in us. In moment
we were all three cropping about the place on
our hands and knees, feeling for the Slight
est indication of Il draught. Presently my
ardor received a cheek. Iput my hand on
something cold. 1t was poor FUulata's dead
face
For an hour or more we went on feelin 2
about, till at last Sir Henry and | gave it uE
IN despair, having got considerably hurt by
constantly knocking our heads against tuSkS
chests, and the sites of the chamber. But
Good still perSevered, saying, with an APP
preach to cheerfulneSs. that it was better
than doing nopsng
Il say, YOU f6!,ows," he said presently. in
a constrained sort of voice, ''come here
Needless to say, we scrambled over toward
him quick enough.
"Quatermaip, put your hand here where
mine is. Now, do YOU feel anything?'
Il think | feel air coming up
Nov Iisten-g He rose AMI stamped upon
Ge place, and lame of hODe shot up in
our hearts. Is hollow.
x With tren hands lit match. [ had
j only three il, md we saw that we We're in
Nae angle of ie far corner of the chamber, a
fact that az mted for orr not having
our former exhaustive Elk animation. As the
match burned we scrutinized the spot There
was joint in the solid rock floor and, great
heavens! there, let in level with the rock
was Il stone ring. We said no word, we
were too excited, and or hearts beat to)
wildly with hope, to allow us to speak
Good had knife at the back of which WAS
one of those hooks that are made to extract
stones from horses hoofs. He openeI it,
and scratched away ut the ring with it.
FINALLY he got it under, and levered away
gently for fear of breaking the hook. The
ring began to move. Being of stone. it had
lain there, as would have been the case had
it been OF iron. Presently it was upright
Then he got his hands into it ami tugged
with all his force, but nothing bud"ed.
Let me try" | said, impatiently, for the
situation of the stone, right i'll the angla OF
the corner, was such that it was impossible
for two to pull at once. [ got hold and
strained away. but with no results.
Then Sir Henry tried and failed.
Taking the hook again, Good scratched all
round the crack where we felt the air com
ing up.
Now, Curtis" he said, tackle on, and
put your back into it; you are as strong as
two. Stop" and he took off stout black
silk handkerchief, which, true to his habits
OF neatness, he still wore. and ran it through
the ring. 'Quatermain, get Curtis round
the middle and pull for dear life when /
give the word. Now"
Sir Henry put out all his enormous
strength, and Good and | did the same, with
such power as nature had given us.
'Heave! heavel it's giving" gasped Sir
Henry; and L heard the muscles of his great
back cracking. Suddenly there came
parting sound, then Il rush of air, and we
We're III on our . racks on the floor with a
rvs strength had done it. and never did mus
cuar power stand Il man IN better stead.
Light Il match, Qmtprmainn." lie said,
as soon Is we HAT pc ,e,t ourselves up and
got our breath: carefully. now
Gid 81, ami there before It's Was. God be
praiSei ac ilist sep OF Il >tpI.c STAIR.
Now VIVA. IS 10 be done?' asked Good.
Follow the stairs, of course, and trust to
Providence.
Stop said SIR Henry; "Qu2termain,
get the bis OF bil.ong and the water that is
left: we may want then.'
[ went creeping back to our place by
the chests for that purpose. and as [ was
coming away an idea struck me. We had
not thought much OF the diamonds for the
last twentvfour hours or So indeed, the
idea of diamonds was nauseous. seeing what
they had eutaied up0n us: but, thought /,
Imay as well pocket 4 few in case we ever
should get out Of this CHASTITY hole. So l
Just stuck my fist irt0 the first chest and
fil.ed all the available pockets of my old
sh6oting- coat, topping up--thiS was a happy
thought--with a couple of handfulS of big
ones out of the third chest.
81 say, you fellows" | sung out, won't
you take some diamonds with you? I've
filled my pockets"
''Oh hang the diamondsr' said Sir Hen
TT. Il hope that may never see another"
AS for Cool. ne mate no answer. &c vas,
think. taking a last farewell of all that
was left of the poor girl who loved him so
well, And curious as il may seem to you
elf tix,rr or hn.,,s nj